Live Blog: Chicago vs. Philadelphia — Stanley Cup Finals Game 3

Is he gonna wear that all night? The Flyers night will be trashed if they end up down 3-0. (AP)

PHILADELPHIA — We’re live here at the Wachovia Center, where we’ll be live-blogging Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals and offering analysis and commentary between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Chicago Blackhawks.

11:17 p.m. | The Philadelphia Flyers have won in overtime just moments after officials called back a heartbreakingly close goal. The Flyers fought … and fought … and … fought … and eventually came out 4-3 winners tonight. But they let the Blackhawks have numerous scoring opportunities and got careless with the puck in their own zone. You can’t fault the Flyers for not fighting when they seemed outmatched, having already done the near impossible to come back down 3-0 against the Boston Bruins.

The Blackhawks’ incredible speed and accurate passing, though, may prove to be the difference in this series. But for now, we await Game 4 Friday night in Philadelphia to see whether the Blackhawks will rebound from the loss and put the Flyers in jeopardy of elimination.

11:13 p.m. | Another potential Flyers goal is under review, and it doesn’t appear this one went in. Officials have ruled no goal here, but, boy, that was about as close as it gets. The puck ran parallel across the goal line, but never actually crossed. After an onslaught of shots by Chicago, that outcome has got to be hard for the Flyers to swallow. This game has been back and forth all night.— Daniel Petty

10:58 p.m. | Well, on to OT here. That was quite a third period, for only having two goals. Both teams could have had a few. Antti Niemi was tremendous in those final 10 minutes for the Hawks and Michael Leighton made a couple of big stops in the final two for the Flyers. Philly keeps being a little shaky with the puck in their own zone at times.

Matt Carle, the former DU kid, has been either great or awful all night. A great breakup of a play one second, a bone-headed turnover the next. It would also behoove him to shoot the puck more when he gets the chance. Has John-Michael Liles invaded his body? — Adrian Dater

10:17 p.m. | Quite a couple minutes there. Blackhawks take a 3-2 lead on a layup of a goal by Patrick Kane on the breakaway, after he slipped in behind Timmonen and Coburn — leading to lots of glum faces here at Wachovia. But before depression could really set in, Ville Leino gets a gift goal on a rebound in front, and she’s all tied up 3-3.

The Blackhawks are clearly the better offensive team than Philly. They just are. They are more explosive and have deeper lines. But Philly just keeps hanging in there. Should be a good last 15 minutes … — Adrian Dater

9:48 p.m. | Chicago’s Brent Sopel has scored the game-tying goal after it appeared Flyers goalie Michael Leighton didn’t see a shot go through several players from just outside the faceoff circle. The puck sailed over Leighton’s right shoulder and into the net, and he gave an incredulous look after it had gone past him. It was definitely a weak goal to let in for the Flyers when they can’t afford to let in bad goals.

Philadelphia was already showing signs of struggle in gaining control of the puck in front of their own net. Chicago had many chances before scoring their last goal.

Flyers officials have announced tonight’s attendance — 20,297 — is the largest crowd for a hockey game ever at the Wachovia Center and the largest in the state of Pennsylvania to see a National Hockey League game.

The second period has ended with the score tied at two goals each. No doubt this is a hard, physical game with lots of back-and-forth, meaning the third period is shaping up to be something special. — Daniel Petty

9:33 p.m. | The referees have ruled an earlier power play shot by Flyer defenseman Chris Pronger a goal. The audio-visual folks here at the Wachovia Center decided to show the reply on the jumbotron before the officials upstairs ruled the shot a goal, one that edged ever-so-slightly across the goal line. And for good measure, they showed the reply multiples times, which brought on a tremendous a wall of sound from inside the arena.

The Blackhawks, meanwhile, have had numerous chances in front of the net, and it seems the Flyers are relying too much on Michael Leighton’s heroics to keep this game close. Still, the score’s 2-1 Philadelphia with just under eight minutes remaining.— Daniel Petty

9:15 p.m. Duncan Keith scores Chicago’s first goal of the night, and the score’s tied 1-1 after a bad Flyers turnover following the power play. Chicago now faces a good opportunity to get the go-ahead goal after a Flyers high sticking penalty from defenseman Chris Pronger.

That goal has totally deflated the crowd’s energy, and one lone woman’s attempt to start a “Let’s go Flyers” cheer isn’t being met with any enthusiasm in our section next to the press box.

9:09 p.m. That was an emotional and hard-fought period of hockey for both teams. The second period is about to start with Philadelphia on the power play after some shoving and roughing between both teams at the end of the first. Dustin Byfuglein gets two minutes for roughing. The Flyers are definitely keeping their hands down to keep from drawing penalties. — Daniel Petty

8:42 p.m. | 1-0 Philadelphia after a beautiful behind-the-back pass from Scott Hartnell in front of the net to Daniel Briere on the power play. Defenseman Braydon Coburn gets the assist. As expected, the arena exploded in cheers. Antti Niemi had absolutely no chance to save the goal — and that may be the only way for the Flyers to score against him in this series. About four minutes remain in the first period. — Daniel Petty

8:37 p.m. | Simon Gagne definitely was hooked on a breakaway there, but no call. Patrick Kane hits the post on the way back down the other end. Place would have gone nuts with boos if that went in. — Adrian Dater

8:35 p.m. | Quite the anthem there, with Lauren Hart singing live with a taped Kate Smith simultaneously. Sometimes I think the Flyers have lived a little too long on their past, with all the 1974-75 stuff on videos and the Smith God Bless America thing, but there’s no denying that’s a moving tradition. — Adrian Dater

8:24 p.m. | The Flyers playing with a lot of emotion, and already throwing around their bodies. And the crowd’s showing their appreciation of the physical play with loud applause. The Flyers are already creating chances in front of the net.— Daniel Petty

8:16 p.m. | I’ve been to many Flyers games before, having lived across the river in New Jersey growing up. The theme from “Rocky” is playing as the Flyers skate onto the ice, and I have never heard a crowd cheer so loud for a game. Enter the Blackhawks, and the roar of cheers is replaced with thunderous boos. This crowd is clearly rallying behind a team that desperately needs a win tonight. — Daniel Petty

7:56 p.m. ET | A sea of orange in front of me as the Flyers go through the pre-game skate. A bit of a strange, non-hockey vibe beforehand, as very loud rap music is the choice of the Wachovia operators. At least it’s some good rap — Beastie Boys “Whatch’a Want” blasting here — a tune on my iPod list.

I guess I predict a Flyers win tonight, but I thought maybe Philly players and coach Laviolette were a little too casual sounding this morning about their current predicament. They can’t lose tonight, so I expected a little more of a “desperate” feel, but maybe that’s just me.